Original Broadway cast members Hunter Foster and Robert Britton Lyons return to Broadway's Million Dollar Quartet, in the roles of Sam Philips and Carl Perkins, respectively, May 3 at the Nederlander Theatre.

Hunter Foster in Million Dollar Quartet.
Photo by Joan Marcus

Tony nominee Foster had been on leave from the production to star in the world-premiere musical Little Miss Sunshine at the La Jolla Playhouse, while Lyons returns after performing in the London production of Million Dollar Quartet, which began in February.

The principal cast also features original cast members Eddie Clendening (Elvis Presley) and Lance Guest (Johnny Cash), as well as new company members Jared Mason (Jerry Lee Lewis), Victoria Matlock (Dyanne), Corey Kaiser (Jay Perkins) and Larry Lelli (Fluke).

Eric Schaeffer staged the Tony Award-nominated musical based on the real-life 1956 recording that the foursome (Elvis, Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis) made at Sun Records' studio in Memphis. Million Dollar Quartet has a book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux; the latter conceived and originally directed the musical.

Million Dollar Quartet opened April 11, 2010, at the Nederlander Theatre following an acclaimed Chicago run, where the musical continues to play the Apollo Theater.

"On Dec. 4, 1956," production notes state, "an auspicious twist of fate brought Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley together. The place was Sun Records' storefront studio in Memphis. The man who made it happen was Sam Phillips, the 'Father of Rock 'n' Roll,' who discovered them all. The four legends-to-be united for the only time in their careers for an impromptu recording that has come to be known as one of the greatest rock jam sessions of all time. . . . Million Dollar Quartet captures the infectious spirit, freewheeling excitement and thrilling sounds of a singular moment when four of the music industry's most extraordinary talents, all in their creative prime, came together for one of the most memorable nights in music history." The design team for Broadway includes Derek McLane (scenic design), Howell Binkley (lighting design), Jane Greenwood (costume design), Kai Harada (sound design) and Chuck Mead (musical arrangements and supervision).